DESIGNER DOG OR MUTT?
Popular mixed breed dogsIs the Morkie a mutt or a designer dog?
Popular mixed breed dogs like the Labradoodle, Malti-poo and the Morkie have been bred for a reason – they’ve been “designed” to combine the best of both breeds (hopefully).
Why combine two different breeds?
Every breed has its pros and cons – Golden Retrievers for example, are a favourite for families with children, but that hair!! Hair, hair everywhere!
The popular Goldendoodle combines the best of the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. The result is supposed to be a family dog with all the characteristics and temperament of the Golden except that doesn’t shed. And the bonus is, the Goldendoodle also has all the great qualities of the Poodle.
Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate
The aim is a lovely big family dog, easy going and great with kids, that doesn’t shed. But, you could end up with exactly the opposite of what you hoped for: a high-strung dog (from the Poodle side) who sheds a ton (from the Golden side).
But by breeding select Goldendoodles with one another eventually the puppies will be consistent and reliable. Then they are true “designer dogs.”
Morkies combine the best of Maltese and Yorkies
Popular mixed breed or designer dogs
No one would call these popular mixed breed dogs mutts. That’s because these designer dogs have been bred for a reason, and they’re becoming more consistent in looks, temperament and health. Ranked by Most Popular.
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Is the Morkie a hybrid dog?
No.
That’s because all dogs are the same species. Hybrids come from TWO DIFFERENT SPECIES.
Dogs are from the canis lupus species, which has two subspecies – dog and wolf. Others in the dog’s family tree include dingos, foxes and different varieties of wolf. So our dogs are actually the same species as the wolf.
Read this great article on Mental Floss about dog species.
A horse and a donkey can be interbred (with help) even though they are two different species. Their offspring, however, cannot breed.
The horse and the donkey are two different species
All dogs are the same species
The horse and the donkey are two different species
All dogs are the same species
Not a true hybrid
A true hybrid
Are cross-breeds like Morkies hardier?
Nope. Another misconception about designer dogs is “hybrid vigour.” The theory goes that the gene pool is “deeper” when different breeds are combined, so therefore, the offspring are stronger.
But again, because all dogs are the same species, there are no ‘new genes’ coming into the equation – they are all dogs or Canis lupus familiaris.
And sometimes, two similar breeds are prone to common hereditary illnesses, so chances of that particular problem can actually increase. For example, both Yorkies and Maltese can get a condition called patellar luxation or floating kneecaps. That’s where the kneecap literally slips out of its groove in the leg bone, causing pain and lameness. This is a condition to be watchful for if you have a Yorkie, Morkie or Maltese.
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There were no purebred dogs in the beginning – everyone was a ‘mutt’
Over centuries, differences have been selectively bred so that dogs have become priceless working companions, not to mention beloved companions. Just think of the value of herding dogs, or dogs who could carry or pull big loads in olden days. In fact, dogs and people have been hanging out for about 16,000 years! (source)
There are about 400 variations of dog breeds today, from that one grey wolf in a fantastic array of sizes, shapes, and colours.
Thousands and thousands of years ago, there were five types of dogs: the Mastiff; a Wolf-like dog; the Greyhound; a Pointer-type dog and Sheepdogs.
Hard to believe, but these two are the same species. No other species has more variety than dogs.
In summary….
A purebred dog is bred to be as close as possible to its breed standards in appearance, temperament and characteristics. Generations and generations of selective breeding result in a consistent result – the pure breed.
A designer or cross-breed dog, on the other hand, is the mixture of two different purebreds, chosen specifically for their unique characteristics. Over time, these offspring are selectively bred to one another so that eventually, a new breed forms when the dogs are the same from one generation to the next. Kennel Clubs in each country then decide if the breed is consistent enough to be “registered.”
A mutt or mongrel is the happy combination of two dogs, usually not purebreds. Often the father’s parentage isn’t known.
But at the end of the day, they’re all dogs, and all have the potential to be wonderful lifetime companions.
Read more about cross-breeds
- Dogbreedinfo.com – a comprehensive site on dogs
- Wikipedia on Dog Cross-Breeds
- “What the heck are designer dogs?”
Not everyone agrees designer dogs are great
If you visit a message board like pets.ca — you’ll see that some dog lovers strongly disagree with the whole idea of “designer dogs” or so-called hybrid breeds.
What’s their beef? Some people worry that designer dogs are just someone’s get-cash-quick scheme, with little or no concern for the dogs produced. That kind of breeder may mass-produce puppies to meet the latest celebrity-driven trend and will sell them to people who are buying the dog as a fad rather than based on an educated decision.
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